CGSeso Engineering & Construction

27/03/2026

The technical paper of our Principal Engineer, Engr. Christian G. Seso has been accepted for presentation at the upcoming midyear convention of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.

The study focuses on how climate-induced rainfall extremes influence slope stability, an issue that is becoming increasingly critical for the Philippines. With frequent typhoons, intense rainfall events, and many developments located in mountainous terrain, understanding these mechanisms is no longer optional.. it’s essential!

Looking forward to sharing the work and contributing to more resilient and informed geotechnical design practices to the Filipino Civil Engineers!

23/03/2026

Honored to be tapped by UP Building Research Services (UP BRS) as geotechnical consultant for a confirmatory investigation of a proposed project inside the Sandiganbayan Complex.

Always a privilege to be trusted with work like this. Looking forward to getting on site and doing what we do best understanding the ground and helping ensure the project is built on safe, reliable, and cost-efficient foundations.

16/03/2026

‼️Exciting news!

We have been shortlisted by DPWH Metro Manila 2nd DEO for a soil investigation project supporting their FY 2026 infrastructure developments.

Looking forward to the opportunity to serve and help build better infrastructure for the Filipino people. 🇵🇭

13/03/2026

We are pleased to share that CGSeso Engineering & Construction has been contracted to perform the SOIL EXPLORATION FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF 12-STOREY SCHOOL BUILDING IN CAMARIN HIGH SCHOOL.

This investigation will involve the drilling of five (5) boreholes to a depth of 50 meters, providing critical subsurface data needed to support the safe and efficient design of the school’s foundation system.

Projects like this are always meaningful to us, contributing to the development of safer and more resilient educational infrastructure for our nation. Every borehole brings us one step closer to building facilities where future generations will learn and grow.

We look forward to mobilizing soon and delivering high-quality geotechnical data to support the success of this project.

26/02/2026

Why Does Allowable Bearing Capacity Sometimes Decrease as Footing Width Increases ❓

It may sound counterintuitive, but in sand, the allowable bearing capacity can sometimes decrease as footing width increases. Terzaghi bearing capacity theory shows that ultimate capacity increases with width due to the "0.5γBNγ"​ term, so from a pure strength standpoint, a wider footing should carry more load. However, serviceability often governs.

Settlement in sand is roughly proportional to qB/Es​, meaning that as the footing becomes wider, the stress bulb penetrates deeper, mobilizes a larger volume of soil, and produces greater settlement. If the design criterion limits settlement to 25 mm (which we usually set for residential structures), the allowable pressure must be reduced to control deformation, even though shear failure is not imminent. In small footings, strength may govern; in larger footings, settlement often governs. Below is the MATLAB Plot showing this condition.

Strength tells you how much the soil can carry, but stiffness determines how much it should carry.

22/02/2026

We are currently involve in a soil investigation project for a Proposed Belfry Structure of the Sto Niño De Congreso Parish in Caloocan. Our drilling equipment was caught on camera this morning during the blessing of the project. The blessing was performed by the Bishop of Caloocan and the congressman of Caloocan was also present in the said ceremony.

📷 Sir Teng Gayya

13/02/2026

WHEN THE PLATE LOAD TEST SAID IT WAS SAFE BUT THE SOIL SAID OTHERWISE!!

At the Transcona Grain Elevator, plate load tests indicated acceptable bearing behavior. Yet during the first filling, the structure tilted rapidly, not over decades, but almost immediately. Why? It is because of the real and physical limitations of the plate load test results.

A plate load test mobilizes stress only to a shallow depth (roughly 1–2 plate widths). That means:

❌ Deeper soft clay layers were never mobilized/ affected by the bearing stress

❌ Undrained shear deformation in those layers was missed

❌ The test captured near-surface stiffness, not the true foundation stress bulb

When the full foundation load was applied, stresses reached the deeper clay, triggering large undrained settlements and rotation even though bearing capacity was not exceeded.

The lesson

The plate load test answered:
✔ Is the upper soil stiff enough?

But failed to answer:
❌ What happens when stresses reach deeper, weaker layers?

This case strongly influenced Karl Terzaghi and the modern emphasis on subsurface profiling and settlement control, not just surface testing.

Practice reminder

If a plate load test is used to “prove” a shallow foundation is OK, especially where soft clays may exist at depth, think again.

👉 The critical layer is often below the test zone

👉 Failure can be rapid, not time-dependent
Foundations don’t only fail slowly.
Sometimes, they fail the moment the real load arrives.

Images :
1. Geostrata
2. Civil Web

29/01/2026

Our Principal Engineer, Engr. Christian G. Seso presenting a paper in the 22nd Southeast Asian Geotechnical Conference.

12/01/2026

Landfill Slope Stability: Why Failures Happen — and How to Prevent Them

Landfills are massive geotechnical structures. When slope failures occur, the root causes are often the same: excess leachate, weak liner interfaces, rapid filling, extreme rainfall, and ground shaking during earthquakes.

🛠️ Key practices that keep landfill slopes stable:

✔️ Strong geotechnical characterization
✔️ Effective leachate & gas drainage
✔️ Controlled filling and proper staging
✔️ Optimized slope geometry and benching
✔️ Interface shear testing for liners
✔️ Continuous instrumentation & monitoring (VERY IMPORTANT!!)

🌧️ With climate change intensifying rainfall and seismic ground shaking adding transient loads, landfill stability must be designed for extreme conditions, not averages.

📌 Good landfill engineering protects infrastructure, communities, and the environment.

09/01/2026

Thank you Xstructures Engineering Consultants for recognizing the works of CGSeso Engineering & Construction for the Bentley Xstructures Infrastructure Excellence Awards 2025!!! Congratulations to all the firms who joined and participated, Filipino Engineers are global!

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗫𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

🏆 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 🏆

Engineering from the ground up.

Congratulations to 𝗖𝗚𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for receiving the Special Citation – Excellence in Geotechnical Engineering at the Bentley Xstructures Infrastructure Excellence Awards 2025.

Recognized for innovative ground solutions, risk management, and exceptional geotechnical expertise.

08/01/2026

This project was at risk after the initial foundation recommendation pushed costs beyond the approved budget. The Client asked CGSeso Engineering & Construction to explore alternatives. We proposed aggregate piers as a ground improvement solution and optimized the design using proven geostructural engineering principles.

Backed by our Principal Engineer’s experience in ground improvement design in the United States, the revised foundation system met performance requirements while bringing the project back within budget.

Contact CGSeso Engineering & Construction for your ground improvement design needs!!!

The project involves the construction of an eight-storey academic building in Cebu, Philippines. The site is located adjacent to the Guadalupe River and is supported by a high retaining wall that maintains a significant elevation difference between the river and the project property. These conditions introduced complex geotechnical challenges, including slope stability concerns, lateral earth pressure, and the potential for ground movement toward the river.

The initial foundation scheme proposed the use of jet grouting; however, a subsequent technical review determined this method to be unsuitable. High-pressure grout injection posed a risk of inducing lateral displacement that could compromise the stability of the riverbank retaining wall. In addition, subsurface investigations revealed thick, undocumented fill materials underlain by weak natural soils, which were inadequate to support the loads of an eight-storey structure. Observed loss of drilling fluid during boring operations also raised concerns regarding potential sinkholes, as such occurrences in karstic limestone formations may indicate subsurface voids or fissures.

To address these issues, the company was engaged to conduct a comprehensive geotechnical evaluation. Drawing on extensive local geological knowledge, the firm performed Earth Resistivity Testing (ERT) and developed a two-dimensional resistivity tomography model of the subsurface. The results confirmed the absence of sinkholes while verifying the presence of weak fill materials requiring ground improvement.

Based on the findings, the use of aggregate piers was recommended as an economical and technically sound ground improvement solution. This approach increased soil bearing capacity, reduced total and differential settlement, and enhanced seismic performance by mitigating excess pore water pressure buildup. The same system was also adopted to support the foundations of the tower crane.

The recommended solution allowed the project to remain within budget while providing a safe, stable, and resilient foundation system. The project demonstrates how site-specific investigation, informed engineering judgment, and appropriate ground improvement techniques can deliver sustainable and effective solutions for critical academic infrastructure.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗦

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